System for treating fabrics



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SYSTEM FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Sept. 29, 19331 8 Sheets-Sheet a WATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 1, 1938 2,109,469 SYSTEM FOR TREATHVG FABRICS Samuel Oohnand Jules G. Waiter, New York,

N. Y., assignors to Samcoe Holding Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application September 29, 1933, Serial No.691,522

12 Claim.

This invention relates to the treatment of fabrics and particularly thetreatment of the fabric strip in a series of related operations.

The main object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor preliminarily treating the fabric, then drying it, then finishingthe dried goods, all in continuous sequence and definitelypredetermining and accurately maintaining the conditions of eachtreatment, while at the same time preserving the desired cooperationbetween the successive steps.

Further objects of the invention particularly the details of thesuccessive apparatuses and controls therefor in the treatment to handlethe i5 fabric will appear from the following specifics?- tion taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which 1 Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic view in elevation showing the successive treatments of thematerial designated generally A, B and C;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the relation of the drives for thevarious parts of. the apparatus and the controls therefor;

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the electrical connections for the drivingmeans;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section of the preliminary treatingapparatus designated generally by A in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4a is a sectional view illustrating a detail of the friction clutchdrives for the rolls of the drying mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a rectifying device in which there is shown adriven roller over which the fabric travels and in relation to which therectifier is adapted to maintain the fabric centralized;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig.7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing our invention in amodified form;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the -.line 88 of Fig. 7, butillustrating a further modification;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing how the rectifier may be employedin a drying apparatus having the fabric engaging over a plurality ofpropelling rollers, so that it travels in a series of horizontal planes;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a finishing ma- 50 chine in preferredform and illustrating the steaming device operating in advance of andafter the propelling device in addition to the finishing rollers;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 55 on the line iiii ofFig. 12;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken *on the line i2-i2 of Fig. 10; v

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view showing the principal parts of. one ofthe steaming devices;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one of the steaming devices;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line lB-li of Fig. 13;a

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a part of the machine showing the changegear device for adjusting the longitudinal tension in the fabric;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view thereof, taken on the line lT-ll of Fig.16';

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view of the wind-up and arbor changingdevices;

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing how the wound-up fabric is shifted anda new mandrel placed in position to receive the newly created end of thefabric;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation illustrating the propeller and the spreaderscarried thereby.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of. one of the spreaders;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the.approach of one of the seamsto the finishing rollei's; and r Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic view of amodified form of apparatus adapted to treatflat material.

In the fabric treating system of this invention the material iscontinuously subjected to a series of operations in certain sequence andat predetermined rate, each operation succeeding the previous one indefinite timed relation and with the maintenance -of identicalconditions so that all portions of the fabric are similarly treated,dried and finished without any intermediate handling and without theinterposition of any variable operation likely to cause a difference indifferent parts of the material. Successive lengths of fabric are seamedtogether so that .each leading strip will carry the following strip withit, and then at the endpf. the finishing operation these successivestrips are again out apart without stopping the mechanism, which is thuskept in continuous operation so long as there are successive strips tobe operated on. Not only each individual stripis thus subjected toidentical operations from end to end, but also successive strips aresimilarly treated unless there is an intentional intermediate adjustmentof parts of the machine to definitely treat the successive strips. Inanycase material of one kind is identically "treated throughout on bothsides, along the edges and in the middle, the successive operationsfollowing each other in precisely de termined sequence so as to entirelyavoid any possibility of variation.

The system has been shown applied to tubular fabrics and in the specificembodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the mechanism is in threeparts designated generally A, B and C, A corresponding, to thepreliminary treatment, B to the drying and C to the finishing. The stripof fabric is continuous through the three operations, feeding from thebasket or container 25 and being wound up in finished form on the roll26. The material in the container 25 is usually in soft, wet form freshfrom the dye kettle and may be centrifugally extracted or may have theextraction performed during the preliminary step A of the presentmechanism. The material M feeds first through the guides 21 tending toaline it in generally flattened form and then over the guide roll 28 tothe feeding propeller and spreader designated generally at 29. Thispropeller 29 is of well known construction to be described in detaillater and acts to accurately spread and expand the material withoutimposing any drag or stretching, simply moving the material whilepositioning it in tubular form around the guide surfaces of the interiorparts. From this spreading action the material is delivered at the endof the propeller 29 over the roll 30 to pass under the roll 3| where itmay be subjected to treatment with any desired treating liquid. If thefirst operation is an initial cleansing and extracting, the fluid in thetrough 32 of roll 3| will be water which will soak into the materialwhich then passes between the squeeze or wringer rolls 33, 34 pressedtogether under a predetermined force applying the proper compression tothe material to give the desired wringing or extracting action. Water issupplied by the spray means 35 atthe upper front surface of the upperroll 33 so that both sides of the material are supplied with the liquidin advance of the squeezing or wringing action.

The material thus cleansed then passes into the secondary treatment ofthe preliminary stage and runs over roll 31 and under the submergingroll 38, passing the material through the liquid in the second trough 39in advance of the second set of squeeze rolls 49. This second treatmentis usually a chemical treatment ina liquid supplied to the upper spraymeans 4| and to the trough or pan 39, the surplus passing over intooverflow trough 42 underneath the lower roll 40. In this way the upperand lower surfaces of the material passing are thoroughly impregnatedfrom below and from above after which there is an immediate wringing orextracting action under the pressure of the rolls which pressure ispredetermined to give the proper action to cooperate with the otherfactors, mainly the hardness of the surface of the rolls 40 and theconsistency and other characteristics of the treating liquid, such asits concentration.

The material delivered from this first stage A is thus cleansed andchemically treated in any desired manner while at the same time thetubular fabric itself has been accurately expanded into tubular formwith its loops precisely arranged and then again flattened and pressedwhile being maintained in this accurately flattened form. The materialin the container 25 is in a rope form without any accurate relativepositioning of tie loops with relation to each other or anypredetermination of the relation between the length and width of'thefabric strip.

This first stage of preliminary treatments in spreading and propellingthe material is so adjusted as to accurately control and predeterminethe width of the fabric so as to have it in proper condition for thesubsequent treatments and in a condition favorable to the production ofthe final width.

This adjustment of the structure of the fabric in the preliminarytreatment A determines the speed of progress of the material over thepropeller and into the treating rolls and this speed will vary with thevarious treatments and is fixed for a given strip according to thecondition of the strip of the material itself. Preferably, ashereinafter explained, the material will be fed slightly slower throughthe propeller 29 so that there will be a predetermined and controlledtension between the propeller and the subsequent rolls. In generalpractice whatever tension is established between the propeller and thefirst treating rolls 33, 34 will be maintained between these rolls andthe subsequent rolls 40.

After the preliminary treatment the material is passed to the dryingoperation designated .generally at B. As shown in Fig. 1 the strippasses upward around the upper guide roll 44 and through the successiveseries of alining or rectifying rolls 45, 46 and 41 which rolls act ashereinafter explained to keep the strip properly flattened and centered.Then the material passes through the entrance idler rolls 48 at theedges of the slot 49 of the drier casing. These rolls 48 act mainly toclose the opening 49 and reduce the air leakageinto the drier.

In the drier the material passes over a long series of driven rollscarrying the material around and back many times while subjecting it toa current of drying air under less than atmospheric pressure. Thismaterial passes from the first rolls 50 around the end roll 5| of thefirst length, then around the second roll 5| to lead back horizontallytoward the entrance end, passing around roll 52 and back horizontallyaround roll 53, thence back and forth from the rolls 54 and 55 in anumber of sequences giving repeated horizontal lengths travelling inopposite directions to the end rolls 56 from which the material iscarried to the outer chamber 51 between the rolls 58 and up to there-entrance rolls 59 where the material is again introduced to the upperor outlet part of the drying chamber where the air has a higher contentof moisture. It has two lengths of travel in this upper chamber. Afterpassing around roll 60 it is carried backward to the entrance end of thecasing out through the slot 6|, around the guide rolls 62 and 63 to therolls 64 and thence through the feeler mechanism designated generally at65 to the finishing operation at C.

In the drying chamber the horizontal lengths of the material aresupported by the guides 56, arranged as designed, and preferably eachlength of the material in the drying chamber also passes through arectifier 61 to maintain the corresponding length flattened and alinedwith respect to the driving rollers. The drying chamber itself ispreferably divided into a series of lengths by baffles or partitions inthe general manner shown in Fig. 1 where the lower partition 68 is abovethe four lower lengths of the material and each of the succeedingpartitions 69, I0 and H is spaced to contain three lengths between them.The air entering the inlet 12 passes over the heating aerofins l3 andthen in succession to the lower chamber below partition 68 andsuccessively through the subsequent chambers under the partition 69, I0,II, and then through the uppermost chamber and out through the exhaustpassage 13 to the exhausting blower 14.

With this arrangement the material travels generally counter to thecurrent of the drying air although certain lengths in eachsubcompartment move in the direction of the passing air. In general thematerial being dried is subjected to drier air and the wetter materialto wetter air but as a controlling modification of this countercurrentdrying effect the auxiliary loop designated L passing around the roll 60is the driest material and is subject to an atmosphere of air of thehighest moisture content. In this way the material is first reduced to aminimum moisture content and then has some moisture returned to it sothat the final content of moisture at the delivery end of the drier willbe somewhat in excess of the moisture content of the material as itleaves the lowermost chamber. This provides automatic control of themoisture content tending to take care of varying widths, weights andmaterials so that the drying operation will have the desired effect withthese various materials in removing the moisture and delivering thematerial with the proper amount of moisture to cooperate with thesubsequent steps in the finishing operation at C.

In the drying operation the material will change mainly by shrinking andnarrowing as it progresses, the shrinkage tending to require a slowingdown of the successive driving rolls and the narrowing having a contraryeffect tending to require the successive rolls to travel at a slightlyhigher speed. As between these two efiects there is great variability inthe successive convolutions through the drier and with the variousmaterials and widths so that the driving rolls within the drier are madeautomatically adjustable to these changeable conditions and for thispurpose are frictionally driven with an automatic slip.between the rolland its driver whenever the material exerts a predetermined resistance.Within the drier therefore the speed conditions continually change frompoint to point and between intake and output and these conditions alsochange in relation to the proper speed of drying for the preliminaryoperations at A.

As the material proceeds from the drier to the finishing operation onlya relatively very light tension is desired and the material under thisthe blower 85. It is then wound up on the final roll 26 over the drivendelivery roll 86.

The spreading action of the propeller 8| is adjustable and is carefullypredetermined to give the proper expansion to the material so that afterthe final steaming, finishing and cooling the desired final width willbe attained. As the material is spread in width it tends to shorten inlength and consequently the speed of the propeller drive has to beaccurately adjusted to the material to avoid excessive tension andsimilarly the tension between the propeller 8| and the final finishingrolls 83 is carefully adjusted to give the proper relation between widthand length as desired in the final product. Additionally a final controlis exerted between the speed of the finished rolls 83 and the wind up at26, the general operation of the finishing apparatus being to receivethe material relatively narrow in width, to steam and soften this underslight tension and to then expand this on the propeller 8I to a totaltransverse periphery corresponding to a width in predetermined relationto the finally desired width. Then there is a slight narrowing under thetension between the propeller and the finishing rolls 83 and a furtherslight narrowing between the finishing rolls and the wind up rolls dueto the tension and to the cooling.

In order to drive the entire apparatus with its successive stages A, Band C (Fig. 2) in continuous operation and maintain the proper relativevelocity conditions, a unitary control is used which utilizes threeseparate motors one for each stage, motor 90 for stage A, motor 9| forstage B and motor 92 for stage C. The motor 90 through the worm drive 93drives the lower ,wringer roll 34 at a predetermined speed as set by therheostat 94 of the main control. The propeller drive is taken from shaftof roll 34 by sprocket and chain drive 95 rotating a gear 96 of thevariable gears designated generally at 91 connected to the lower roll 98of the propeller 29. These gears 91 may be changed to vary the speedratio between the propeller 29 and the wring roll 34.

Similarly a chain I of sprocket on shaft of roll 34 drives the changedspeed gearing IOI rotating the lower roll 40 of the second set ofwringer rolls and this changed speed gearing IOI permits the speed ratiobetween the two sets of wringer rolls to be varied as desired. In thepreliminary apparatus for cleansing and treating the fabric thesuccessive steps are thus variable as to their relative speeds but inturn all vary together by the speed of the motor 90 predetermined by thesetting of the rheostat 94.

In the drier unit designated generally at B the motor 9I through theworm drive I03 drives the chains I 04 and I threaded over sprocketsconnected through slip friction grip devices to the shafts of the drivenrolls 50, 5|, 52, 53, 55, 56,

shaft of the drive roll 64. As previously explained the frictionclutches between the sprockets and the roll shafts permit relativeslipping between 'the drive and the rolls so that some of the rolls willautomatically have a peripheral velocity less than the peripheralvelocity of such rolls as are rotated at the full speed of the chaindrive.

superposed upon these variations is the variation in the speed of themotor 9|, automatically controlled through rheostatI06 actuated from thedancer roll I01 between the preliminary treatment stage A and the drierB. As shown in Fig. 1 the dancer roll I01 is adjustably carried by thearm I08 of sprocket I09 connected by a chain H0 and sprocket I II on thecontact arm of the rheostat I08. The arm I08 is held toward the left bythe adjustable weights H2 and toward the right by the tension exerted bythe material M as it passes from the final wringer rolls 40 to the upperguide roll 44. As the speed of the drier drive increases with relationto the initial drive of stage A the tendency of the material is toincrease in tension at the dancer roll I0I so as to press this roll tothe right and turn the arm of rheostat I06 in a direction to reduce thespeed of the motor 9I. This reduction in speed correspondingly releasesthe tension on the material between stage A and stage B so that thedancer roll I0'I tends to move toward the left by the weights II2 tocause an increase in the speed of motor 9|. By properly adjusting thelength of the arm I08 and the weights II2 the desired tension in thematerial between stage A and stage B can be maintained within very closelimits so that the speeds of these two stages will be automatically keptin proper relation to each other according to the setting of the initialspeed of motor 90.

This desired initial speed will vary with the material being handled andwith the treatment applied to the goods, for instance, with heavymaterials the initial speed of stage A as determined by rheostat 94 willusually be set relatively slower than for lighter materials.

In the final finishing operation a relatively light tension is used sothat the material from the drive is subjected to substantially nostretch ing. The final feed rolls 64 deliver the material to the dancerroll mechanism 65 from which it is drawn by the drive rolls of thepropeller 8I from which the material is drawn by the finishing rolls 83from which the material passes to the final wind-up roll 26.

These finishing drives are all operated from the motor 92 which throughthe arm and worm wheel II5 drives the chain II6 rotating shaft III andthrough chain II8 driving the propeller rolls 202, 203. A chain I20driven from shaft II'I through the change speed gears I2I drives thefinishing rolls 83 as shown, these rolls being geared together as shown.The drive for the final wind-up roll 26 is taken from the finishingrolls through chain I22 and change gears I23 (Fig. 2) so that each ofthese drives, the propeller, the finishing rolls and the wind-up rollmay be relatively varied as desired to maintain the desired relativespeeds and the tensions on the passing material. When these relativespeeds have been set by proper choice of the change speed gearing, thespeed of the entire unit will vary with the speed of the single drivemotor 92.

The speed of this motor 92 is controlled by rheostat I25, the regulatingarm of which is actuated from the feeler or dancer roll mechanism 65.This mechanism comprises a series of idler rolls I26 on a stationaryframe and a second series of idler rolls I21 mounted on the arm I28counterweighted at I29 and normally held toward the right by theadjustable weights I30. The material M is looped around the idlers I26and I2'I in succession as shown so that there is a multiplication of thetension of the material on the arm I28 tending to tip the arm toward theleft and lift the weigh I30 which through sprockets and chain I3Icontrols the position of the contact arm of rheostat I25. As the speedsof the drier and the finisher vary with relation to each other, thetension on the material will increase when the finisher is running toofast for the drier and similarly will decrease when the speed of thefinisher lags. The resultant variations in tension on the materialbetween the finisher and the drier will tip the arm I28 to the left tolower the speed of the motor 92 and to the right to increase said speed.By proper adjustment of the idlers I26, I21 and weights I29, I30 thetension on the material between the drier and the finisher can be keptwithin very close limits and regulate the speed of the finisher tofollow variations in the rate of supply from the drier and to controlvariations occurring in the rate of feed through the finishing apparatusitself.

'As shown in the electrical circuit diagram of Fig. 3, the armatures ofthe three motors 90, 9| and 92 are connected in parallel across theleads I I4, I24 from the variable voltage D. C. generator I32. Similarlythe fields 94', I06 and I25 0! these motors are supplied with leads I33and I34 from a direct current exciter I35, the fields being arranged inparallel. Rheostat I06 automatically operated as above described,controls the speed of the drier motor 9| through field I06 and rheostatI25 of the finishing operation varies the field I25 with the finishermotor 92 to automatically regulate the speed of the final finishingoperation according to the tension between the drier and the finisher.The speed of the entire apparatus as a whole is controlled through themain rheostat 94 in series with the field I31 of the variable voltagegenerator I32 so that adjustment of this rheostat 94 will slow down orspeed up the entire apparatus to give the desired rate of travel of thematerial while at the same time maintaining the properly andautomatically adjusted relative speeds of each individual part. Ashereinafter explained automatic means isprovided for operating thisrheostat to slow down the speed when a seam between two lengths ofmaterial passes through the finishing rolls 83.

The armatures of all the motors being connected in parallel with thegenerator armature, they will vary in speed as the generator voltage isvaried. Consequently by providing a limit switch I38 to control the armof rheostat 94 the closing of the switch will 'move the rheostat arm toautomatically lower the generator voltage and correspondingly decreasethe speeds of the driving motors from the normal speed to any desiredlower speed. This limit switch I38 is arranged to be operated by theraising of the final ironing or finishing roll 83 so that as the seambetween successive strips reaches these rolls the entire apparatus willautomatically slow down to permit the operator to separate thesuccessive strips by cutting them apart and another limit switch I39preferably engaged at the end of this cutting operation will act toreturn the arm of rheostat 94 to normal position to restore the motorspeeds to normal. In Figs. 1 and 10 a cut off device is indicated at 3I0of the type for instance disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,745,476of February 4, 1930, the device being adapted to operate along the cutoff bar 3. Upon the slowing down of the machine by the arrival of theseam between the final finishing rolls, the operator disconnects thedrive for the wind up roll 26 and moves this roll outward on itssupporting bracket 208 and replaces its mandrel II8 with another mandrel2I0. In the meantime the slack in the material between the wind up rolland the guide roll 86 accumulates and drops downward until finally itlies over the cutter bar 3, and when the seam between the strips isabout to pass over this cutter bar, the operator moves the cutter 3I0across the cutter bar to separate the strips along the line of the seam,then throwing the end of the following strip of fabric over the newmandrel 2I0 so that this will immediately begin to wind up the followingstrip.

In this way the continuity of the movement of the strips through themachine is preserved and thus provide for acceleration to apredetermined speed as set on the rheostat 94 of the generator feed anddeceleration to a fixed low speed which is always the same. Theoperating speed range may be, for instance, six to thirty-two yards perminute for the wringer unit A and 50% above or below any speed betweenthese limits for either the drier or finishing units B or C.

This apparatus with its combined drive and speed control takes care ofall of the operations from the moment the fabric is taken from the dyekettle and fed into the machine. The moisture is extracted, the fabrictreated, dried, steamed, finished and rolled up with the proper yardage.All movements of the fabric are automatically correctly co-ordinated.Preparatory to its entry into the machine the fabric is in loose ropeform. After it passes through the wringer it is spread out to fiat widthto any dimensions desired.

While the drive and control of the relative speeds of the successiveunits of this system have been described in connection with a drive byinter-related electric motors, other forms of driving means maybe usedgiving the desired automatic speed variation of the successive stagesand of the machine as a whole.

Since the fabric is of knitted construction and subject to varyingdimensions, it would tend to get narrow and longer at some times andwider and shorter at others. To compensate for the varying dimensionswhich the fabric assumes and to maintain the desired tensions andconditions of the fabric at each part of each operation, the drive unitsare subject to relative variations within each stage and to automaticvariation of each stage with relation to the other and within the drierto the automatic slippage provided by the friction clutch drive on eachroll.

There are three main variations in the dimensions of the fabric.Initially the fabric is spread to predetermined width over the wringerpropeller and thereafter in its fiat wet form is subject to change ofdimensions through decreased width and increased length through thetension exerted thereon preparatory to its entry into the drier B.Similarly the fabric tends to decrease in width and increase in lengthin its passage through the drier fromits wet to dry form due firstly tothe natural shrinkage taking place as the fabric dries and secondly tothe tension exerted on the fabric to maintain its proper passagetherethrough. As the fabric emerges from the drier in flat dry form itswidth must be co-ordimated with the final desired width afterfinishing,- and it is, therefore, subject to varying dimensions on thepropeller of the finishing unit C. Within the drier box, both width andlength dimensions vary from layer to layer as the fabric passes, intovarious stages of drying in the drying chamber B, and similarly in itspassage through the fin: ishing machine after passing over thepropeller. Prior to its passage through the finishing rolls andsubsequent thereto the fabric assumes varying dimensions due to thefactors of steam application, natural shrinkage and cooling forces, allof which affect the fabric. trol of the tensions both in the drier boxthrough the friction clutches and the change gear units on the finishingmachine before and after its passage through the finishing ro-lls givethe automatic control necessary to the proper co-ordination ofdimensions to obtain the proper finished width.

With the apparatus of this invention all of these variations areaccurately and precisely ac- The automatic concommodated and maintainedin proper relation to each otherwithout stretching or straining thefabric and with a continuous progress of the fabric from end to end ofthe successive treatments. This is accomplished by prearranging therelative speeds of the successive treatments within the stages A and C,preadjusting the spring tensions on the various friction clutches of thedrier rolls and permitting the material to automatically adjust itselfwithin the convolutions of the intermediate drier stage, while atthesame time driving the drier and finishing units B and C in constantlyadjusted speed relation to each other and to the speed of the materialas it is fed from the initial cleansing and treating operations'at stageA. As a definite example any frictionally clutch driven roller in thedrier has several settings of spring pressure within the limits of whichthe speed of the roll is automatically controlled by the passage of thefabric thereover.

The entire operation under the unified control of the successivetreatments makes it .possible to automatically handle the material fromraw form to the finished form on the wind-up roll 26. The mechanism isreadily adjusted to fabrics of different weights and sizes involvingwide differences in elasticity and in the behavior of the fabric in thereaction to the successive stages of the treatment. Having pre-set therelative speeds within each stage and the relative frictions on thedriving clutches of the drier roll, the remaining action of theapparatus in accommodating itself to the peculiarities of each part ofeach different strip of material is entirely automatic.

The apparatus of stage A is specially adapted to give a very thoroughcleansing and/or treatment of the material as it passes. As illustratedin greater detail in Fig. 4 the propeller 29 due to the-operation of theupper and lower propeller rolls and the action of the spreading frameexpands the tubular material in very smooth and accurate manner avoidingall undue strains or stretching of the material in the formation ofwrinkles or other irregularities. This controlled expansion of thematerial also accurately adjusts and positions the individual loops ofthe material from point to point so that the subsequent tension of thematerial between the propeller and the squeeze rolls draws these loopslongi tudinally. and transversely together in very even formation, whilethe fabric is guided into its fiat form over the guide roller 30.

The material so rearranged and maintained in its flat condition with theupper and lower layers positioned together and mutually self-supportingis carried around under roll 3f beneath the surface of the treatingliquid in the trough 32. Immediately thereafter the movement of thematerial exposes its upper surfaces to the flow of the treating liquidpassing down over the front surface of the roll 33 and on to thesurfaceof the fabric as" it passes upward around with the rotation ofthe lower roll 34. Both sides of the fabric strip are thus substantiallysimultaneously exposed to a bath of the treating liquid which fiows downfrom above and is supplied at constant depth in the trough 32.

The reservoir of this liquid is indicated at Ml,

trough I45 under roll 34, and the overflow from trough 32 passes downinto the trough I45 and out through the overflow drain I45 back to thereservoir MI. The material passing around the rolls 3i and 34 is thussubjected on both of its surfaces to a bath ofthe treating liquid, andwhile thus tensioned and saturated, it is passed into the bite of therolls 33, 34 preferably hard surfaced and with the compression betweenthem adjusted to remove the surplus liquid to desired degree, dependingupon the material and the character of the treatment.

After this preliminary treatment, which may be either cleansing or somechemical treatment, such as loading, applying pigment for dyeing,sizing, or the like, the fabric strip is carried over the guide roll 31to the dipping roll 38 carrying the material down into the liquid in thesecond trough 39 and then passing the strip up around the surface of thelower roll 40, preferably surfaced with softer material than the rolls33, 34. The upper liquid supply 4| maintains a constant fiow of thesecond treating liquid over the upper surface of the strip on the roll40 so thatthefabric is again bathed on both its surfaces and thensqueezed in the bite of the second wringer rolls 40 and compressedtogether to remove the desired amount of surplus liquid from the fabricas it passes, and leaving within the fabric a predetermined amount ofthe treating chemical. The supply of liquid as in the previous step isdrawn from a reservoir I 4| sucked up by pump I42 through pipes I43, I44to the distributor 4| and trough 39 from which the overflow is passed tothe trough 42 and back to the reservoir through the overflow drain I46.

The second step of this treatment will depend on the character of thefirst treatment. Following the cleansing a dyeing, loading or sizingstep may be used, or following an original pigmentation a second fixingstep may be applied, for instance. In any double chemical treatment thematerial supplied to the container 25 will, of course, be centrifuged orotherwise extracted or dried.

The material thus cleansed and treated is still in wet condition, and inthe system of this invention passes immediately to the drier where it iscarried in tortuous passage over the driven rollers 5|, 5!, 53, 54 and55 at each end of the drier chamber and through the successivesubccmpartments to driest condition in the lowermost portion of thechamber. The number of sub-compartments is optional and may be made moreor less dependent upon the requirements. There may also be more or lesslengths of fabric in each compartment.

The small idler rollers 66 hold the fabric suspended in each layerbetween the driven rollers, and the fabric in each layer passes overfive such idlers. The guides or rectifiers 51 are set directly in frontof most of the driven rollers 5| 52, 53, 54 and 55 so that the fabric iskept in spread condition, and at the same time properly centered in itstortuous progression through the machine. These rectifiers 61 must beset in front of the driven rollers at the end of each chamber where theair turns from one chamber to the next, at which point the air blowsdirectly against the fabric and would disturb and wrinkle it if it werenot for the rectifiers.

A suction blower I4 draws the air from the drier chamber creating asuction throughout the entire five subcompartments so that the airprogresses through the drying box in a course of travel as indicated bythe arrows, the entire interior being under less than atmosphericpressure. When the dissipated air discharged by the blower 14 is notcompletely saturated with water to its capacity, it is feasible torecirculate a part of this air so that a definite portion of it will besupplied with the fresh air entering the aerofin units at 12. This tendsto reduce the steam consumption as the recirculated air still retainssome of its original heat. Without recirculation the normal temperaturedrop from 220 to 100 for instance, indicates efiicient drying, with nowaste of steam. The temperature of the initial air depends upon theamount of steam pressure used, which may vary from five to one hundredtwenty-five pounds, which in most cases is boiler pressure. Where thetemperature of .the air at the inlet is 140, it emerges at a temperatureof approximately Where the air entersat a temperature of 260", itemerges at a temperature of about 140.

In this system of drying the hottest air comes into contact with thedriest goods, thereafter passing through the various chambers picking upmoisture from the wet fabric, which moisture upon entering into the aircurrent decreases the temperature. A temperature drop from 220 toindicates efficient drying and practically all of the drying is done inthe four upper compartments so that the fabric is quite dry when itenters the lowermost compartment, which is mainly an extra precaution toallow for varying conditions in the drier, such as changes in boilerpressure, different time elements of the fabric in the drier due to theslowing down of the machine, varying widths of fabric and varyingweights of fabric, as well as the different types of yarn composing thefabric. The excess drying taking place in the lowermost chamber 5 can beeliminated by the use of instruments for humidity control, or denotingthe moisture content in the fabric at the drying box outlet. In additionas shown in Fig. l the dried material may be carried back again into oneof the earlier compartments to piclr up some additional moisture andcorrect any tendency to overdrying that may have occurred. Additionalmoisture treatment may also be provided between the drier and thefinishing step as indicated for instance in Fig. 23.

The blower 14 may be varied in capacity depending upon the temperaturesand the condition of the material being dried. It may for instance passabout 5,000 cubic feet of air per minute for a speed of the fabriccorresponding approximately to thirty yards per minute. If the number ofdrying chambers and layers of fabric is increased, a lower temperatureof the air is necessary for drying as the time element of the fabric inthe drying box increases. With sufiicient drying chambers it is possibleto dry the fabric with air at much lower temperatures. It isproportionally much cheaper to heat air to a relatively slight degree sothat in each installation a most economical balance may be reachedbetween the length of the drying chambers and directs a single preheatedair flow to the fabric in one continuous passage through the dryingchambers.

During this drying of the long length of fabric looped back and forthbetween the driving rolls and subject to air currents of considerablevelocity, there are wide variations in the condition of the fabric notonly as to its moisture content; from end to end of the drying chamber,but also as between successive convolutions of the fabric. Some of thefabric lengths between the rollers at each end will tend to sag whileothers will tend to tighten. It is vital to the operation of theapparatus that the relative tensions between the successive convolutionsbe controlled and maintained within quite definite limits, as otherwiseexcess of tension would develop at some point tending to injure thefabric and too much slack at other points tending to drop down andinterrupt the proper feeding of the material through the machine, ortend to underdr'y those sagging portions. Any such irregularities willresult in a corresponding irregularity inthewidth, texture andappearance of the final product.

To automatically control and even the'tensions of the successiveconvolutions each of the driving rollers 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55 isprovided with a special drive by means of a friction clutch (Fig. 4a) tomaintain a. predetermined tension on the fabric passing over thecorresponding roller. These tensions are adjustable so that each rollerwill be initially set for each class of goods with the appropriateattention to maintain proper operation, and during operation thesetensions may be varied and readjusted as desired to maintain the mostdesirable operating conditions. In Fig.

' 4a the roller 5| is shown with a typical friction clutch drive on theshaft 300 passing through the side partition 30| of the drier. On theshaft 300 the sprocket 302 is rotatably mounted between the frictiondisks 303 and 304 contacting with the sprocket by facings of fibrousmaterial such as asbestos. The disk 303 is rigid with the shaft ofroller 5| and turns with it. The disk 304 is rotatable on the shaft andis pressed by the spring 305 between disk 304 and slidable collar 306,which in turn is held by a yoke member 30! mounted on a ring 308 set inplace on the shaft 300 by the set bolt 309. The yoke 30! is pivotallymounted on the ring 308 and has three positions of adjustmentcorresponding to three different positions of the collar 306, which thusacts to adjust the pressure of the spring 305 holding the disks 303, 304against the sides of the driving sprocket 302. This yoke adjustment issuperposed upon the primary adjustment made by the setting of the ring308 so that there is a large range of adjustment of each frictionclutch, and as between the different rolls there may be wide variancesin the spring pressures and the resulting frictional engagement.

The driving chains I04, I05 pass over all the sprockets 302 to drive therollers at the intended maximum speed of the drier, which is forinstance, thirty yards per minute. The predetermined tension on anyfabric layer between two driven rollers is greater than the set frictionof the hubs or disks 303, 304 against the sprocket 302 so that therollers will normally move at the same speed as the fabric passingthereover. Assuming, however, that the cloth tends to move at a slowerspeed than the set speed at which the chains and sprockets move, thenthe tension on the goods between two driven rollers will create a dragon the shaft of the second roller, and the disk 303 will tend to lagwith respect to the corresponding sprocket 302, and when this tendencyexists the setfriction between the sprocket and the disks will permitthe sprocket to continue to revolve but the corresponding disk 303 andits roller will slip in the sprocket and rotate at a lower speedconforming with the speed of the fabric. If it is assumed that while thedriven rollers are moving at the rate of twenty yards per minute thefabric is moving faster and therefore tending to accumulate slightly,there will be no or veryllittle tension on the fabric between the twodriven rollers, and, therefore, no resistance orinsufllclent tension toovercome the-light frictional contact of the disk 303 against thesprocket 302. In such case the shaft 300 and the connected driven rollerwill tend to increase in speed approaching the maximum speed of thesprocket 302 to the point where the predetermined tension on the fabricbetween the driven rollers is re-established, and thereafter the rate oftravel of the rollers will be controlled by the fabric passingthereover. It is clear that while the sprockets 302 actually turn thedriven rollers, the rate of speed of the driven rollers is controlled bythe rate of travel of the fabric itself as it passes thereover. If thefabric tends to tighten 'in tension or move slower thanthe drivenrollers a drag will be created on the rollers which reflects itself onthe shaft 300, which will decrease in speed to the point where thepredetermined tension on the fabric is re-established.

In this way a variable speed is obtained for each driven roller 5|, 52,53, 54 and 55 whereby a definite and predetermined tension is established and maintained on each increment of the fabric as it passes overthe successive rollers, and any variation from this predetermined fabrictension, either greater or lesser, will tend to decrease or increase thespeed of the rollers and reestablish the predetermined fabric tension.This same relation exists between any two given layers of the fabric.

Under actual working conditions the variations in speed of the fabricbetween running tight and loose exist only between quite fixed limitsbecause when a difinite spring tension againstthe disk 303 is used therewill not be any violent fluctuations in fabric tension except that the mfluencing tendency exists to maintain the uniform and predeterminedfabric tension. Where violent changes in the fabric tension tend toocspring tension against the disk 303 to increase or decrease the speedof the driven rollers in operation to the maximum set speed of thesprocket 302.

In this way the driving means passing the material through the drier iscontinually kept in condition to automatically and immediatelyanticipate any fluctuations in the tension of the strip as it passes,the proper corrective movement of the individual rollers beingimmediately affected. This variable response is very noticeable in theoperation of the machine. The relative speeds of the rollers arecontinually changing as the material develops irregularities and lagsinits progress through the successive c'onvolutions. All of the interiorstrains on the material are thusreduced to a minimum and even tensionwithin 'very close limits from end ,to end of the drier as a unit ismaintained.

The efficiency as well as the eveness of the dry on the material so thateach increment of the strip as it passes receives exactly the samedrying treatm'ent corresponding" to maximum effectiveness.

Cooperating with this automatic self-adjustment of the driving rollers5|, 52, 53, 54 and are the guides or rectifiers 61 positioned preferablyin advance of each of the driving rollers.

A belt, band or strip of material running over rolls or pulleys has atendency to run off one side or other of the roll orpulley unless thereis something to hold the material properly centered and alined. It isespecially difficult to control the travel of material, such astextiles, over rollers and pulleys because the material is soft ornon-rigid and this is specially true of knitted fabrics due to theirloose or limp construction, and in tubular fabrics of this characterthere are superimposed layers, which, especially if in wet condition,are difiicult to handle in the flat form so as to maintain themcentralized on pulleys or rollers and to move them without shiftlaterally.

The problem is even more diflicult where the fabric is looped back andforth reversely over a plurality of rollers so that the fabric travelsin a succession of horizontal runs because it tends to accumulatecreases wherever it is reversed in direction and also to run off towardone side or other of the pulleys or rollers.

In the present invention a simple, inexpensive and efilcient meansherein referred to as a rectifier is provided shown at 61 in Fig. 1which automatically rectifies the course of travel of the fabric tocounteract its tendency to run off the rollers or pulleys and when thetendency to do so arises, to guide the fabric back into centralposition. The present rectifier gently and gradually guides the fabricback to a centralized position or into its intended path as soon as thetendency to travel laterally on the rollers or pulleys develops, and thedevice automatically rectifies the fabric or returns it to its intendedcourse, regardless of whether it has developed a tendency to move off tothe right or to the left on the rollers or pulleys. Providing flanges ontherollers or pu leys will not sufiice to accomplish this result,especially where the strip of material is textile fabric, but theequalizer operates substantially throughout the width of the strip.

First describing the form of the guide or rectifier illustrated in Figs.5 and 6 there is shown a roller 5| around or partly around which atravelling strip of fabric 52 is adapted to be propelled, and while thisroller may be an idler, it is indicated as being driven by any meansengaging the gear I53 on the outer end of the shaft of the roller.

One purpose of the present rectifier is to guide the fabric and toequalize it so that it remains centered in relation to the roller 5|;or, in other words, it prevents the fabric from moving laterally ineither direction off the surface of the roller 5|.

Two supporting members I54 are shown at opposite sides of the device,and which are adapted to be mounted say on the interior of the walls ofa drying chamber in which the fabric is to be dried. There is a crossbar I55 stationarily mounted in these brackets at opposite ends, the barI55 being disposed crosswise of the machine or parallel with the axis ofthe roller 5|. Any other form of support may be employed. A bar I56rigidly mounted on the bar I55 and projecting forwardly from above theroller 5| to form a supporting member for the pivoted part of therectifying device is shown. In the forward end of this last mentionedbar there is a stud or bolt I51 and pivotally mounted therein and belowthe bar I56 is shown a bracket I58. The bracket I56 is rigidly connectedwith the cross bar I59 which forms part of the rectifier, so that by theconstruction just described the rectifier is pivotally mounted on thebolt I51 which is supported by the bars I56, I55; and preferably theaxis of the bar I59 is in the center line of the correct path of travelof the fabric or in line with the middle of the roller 5|. On oppositeends of the rectifier bar I59 are shown brackets I60 rigidly connectedto the bar and forming bearings for the axles of two rollers I6I, I62.As shown in Fig. 6, these rollers are so disposed that the strip offabric in approaching the roller 5| engages under the first roller |6Iof the rectifying device and thence over the second roller I62, so thatthere will be sufficient surface contact of the fabric with these tworollers to cause them to revolve as the fabric travels partly aroundthem. It is to be understood that the rollers I6I, I62 are freelyrevolvable and their axles may be mounted in ball bearings if desired,in order that these rollers villi turn veryeasily under the traction ofthe moving fabric.

To limit the extreme diagonal swing of the rectifier on the pivot I51are shown ears I63 extending upwardly from the opposite sides of thebracket I60 and stop screws I64 are threaded through these ears and theyare adapted to engage opposite side edges of the stationary bar I56 forthe purpose of limiting the swing of the rectifier on the pivot I51.These stop screws are adjustable to vary the permissible swing of thepivotal part of the rectifier and they may be secured after adjustmentby tightening the lock nuts I65 against the ears I63.

The pivotal part of the rectifier carries the roll 43 by brackets 43' oneach side fastened to the brackets I60. This roll 43 cooperates with therolls I60 and I62 to provide the proper hug contact under suflicienttension to give the required sensitivity to the action of the rectifier,the fabric (Fig. 6) flexing and passing around these rolls as shown. Thebrackets 43 may be adjustable as to length and/or angularity to variablyposition the roll 43 with relation to the rolls I6l, I62 and the roll5|. With this combination of rolls the tension on the material as itpasses through the pivotally carried rolls of the rectifier is renderedlargely independent of the tension beyond the rectifier, and the tensionon the material through the driving and idler rollers may beconsiderably less than the tension on the material between the rolls I6Iand 5|, for instance. The roll 43 instead of being positioned betweenthe rolls I6I, I62 and the roll 5| may be mounted at the other side ofthe rectifier and in advance of the roll I6I.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows: The fabricI52, in flat form, whether of a single thickness or a flattened tube,having superimposed layers, will travel in a horizontal plane and willreach the rectifier from some previous roller or guiding means, or fromany other source such as drive rolls 50 of Fig. 1. The fabric travelsunder the first roller |6I of the rectifier, and thence .over the secondroller I62 and there will be sufficient area of contact between thefabric and these rollers, so that the fabric may revolve the tworollers. After the fabric leaves the second roller I62 of the rectifier,it passes onto and partly around the roller 43 and thence to roller 5|.The function of the rectifier, as

stated above, is to keep the traveling strip of fabric centralized inrelation to the roller 5|. If while the fabric is traveling through therectlfier it for any reason develops a tendency to lead toward the rightof the roller 5|, as viewed in Fig. 5, the fabric will travel on therectifying rollers I6I, I62 toward the right, and when this action takesplace there will be more fabric engaging the rectifier rollers to theright of the pivotal point I51 in Fig. 5 and this will cause therectifier to turn diagonally toward the left in Fig. 5 or to swinganti-clockwise in this view, and the rectifier will thereuponimmediately develop a left lead in the traveling fabric. This left leadwill overcome the previously developed right lead of the fabric, or, inother words, the rectifier will equalize the fabric by leading it backtowards the correct position. When this counter-lead starts to bring thefabric back to its correct position, the rectifier will also move fromits diagonal position back to its central position, as shown in Fig. 5,so that by the time the fabric has been corrected in-relation to theroller 5I the equalizer itself will have been brought back to theneutral or straight position at right angles to the correct line oftravel of the fabric, as indicated in Fig. 5. The lateral lead caused bythe equalizer is therefore brought to an end when the fabric has beenbrought back to its correct path. There is sufficient traction of thefabric on the rollers of the rectifier to revolve these rollers. Therectifying action is not sudden but takes place gradually as isnecessary with a wide, soft fabric. If the pivotal screw I51 is arrangeddirectly over the bar I59 of the rectifier, the rectifying action willbe much slower and more gradual, whereas, with this pivotal pointarranged ahead of the bar as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, there is a greaterswing to the rectifier and, therefore, the rectifying action is quicker.For rectifying knitted fabric of soft material, the arrangement as shownin Figs. 5 and 6 has proven very satisfactory in its operation.

In Fig. 9 there is shown in perspective how the fabric may traverse aplurality of horizontal planes passing over idler rollers I66 at one endof the drying chamber and over propelling rollers I61 similar torollsg5l. In this case it is preferable to provide one of the rectifiersin advance of each of the propelling rollers I61 in order that thefabric will be rectified as it approaches the propelling rollers. As therectifier requires no operating force other than the traction of thefabric and as these devices are simple and inexpensive, they may bearranged adjacent each propelling roller.

In Figs. '1 and 8 is shown a preferred form of the rectifier which notonly rectifies the fabric as it feeds to the propelling roller 5I but italso serves to roll out any wrinkles in the fabric before it travelsonto the propelling roller. In this form of the invention the same kindof support is used for the rectifier as in the first form, consisting ofthe brackets I54, the cross-bar I55, and the forward extending bar I56which carries the pivot screw I51 on which the bracket I58 of therectifier is pivotally mounted. The bracket I58 is fixed to thecross-bar I59 of the rectifier as in the previous construction, and thestop screws I64 co-operate with the bar I56 to limit the swing of therectifier on its pivot I51. n the outer ends of the bar I59 there aremounted brackets I68 in which one end of the rollers are journaled, theopposite ends of the several rollers being iournaled in the brackets I60carried bythe bar I59.

In this construction there is a pair of rollers I10, I" each engagingabout half the width of the fabric from the center line and on oppositesides. These rollers are divergent in relation to each other, so thatvtheir outer ends lie slightly in advance of the opposite ends of therollers, as shown in Fig. '7.- A second pair of rollers, consisting ofthe members I12 and I13 are also arranged in divergent relation to eachother and parallel with the rollers I10, I". The fabric passes under thefirst pair of rollers I10, "I, thence over the second pair of rollersI12, I13 and then-around tension roll 43 and onto the propelling rollerIf the fabric develops a tendency to lead to the right or left, thisrectifier will act in the same manner as the one first described. Thatis to say, if the fabric develops a tendency to lead to the right inFig. '7, there will be more fabric engaging the rollers I10, I12 on oneside of the central line of .the fabric, and this will swing therectifier on the pivot I51 to the left or counter-clockwise in Fig. '7,and the rectifier will therefore develop a counter-lead to the leftuntil the fabric has been brought back to its central position or thecorrect line of travel. If the fabric develops a tendency to lead to theleft in Fig. '1, there will be more fabric engaging the rollers I1 I, I13 than the rollers I 10, I12 and the rectifier will induce a right handlead to offset the previously developed left lead, and the fabric willbe brought back into its correct line of travel. At all times therollers I10, I12 are in divergent relation to the rollers I1I, I13 andthe two pairs of rollers, acting on both sides of the center line of thefabric, roll the wrinkles from the center towards the opposite sides ofthe fabric, so that the wrinkles disappear or are smoothed out by thetime the fabric reaches the propelled roller 5I. Both the rectifying andsmoothing actions are automatic in this form of the invention. In Fig.'7 the roll 43 is shown between the rolls I10, I12 and the driveroll'5I, but as shown in the sectional view (Fig. 8) this roll 43 may bemounted in advance of the rolls I1I, I13

being supported from the pivoted carrier I58 by' the brackets 43". Whenthe roll 43 is positioned in front of the rolls I1I, I13 or I60, I62,that is to the left as shown in Fig. 8, this roll instead of beingcarried by the pivoted part of the rectifier may be supported with itsaxis permanently at right angles to the line of travel of the fabric.Roll 43 when in advance or to the left (Fig. 8) of the other rectifierrolls may be'mounted on the fixed axis instead of one moving around thevertical pivot I61.

It will be seen from the above that there is provided a very simple andautomatically operating rectifier for maintaining the fabric or strip ofwhatever nature, in its correct path of travel. The rectifier operateson substantially the full width of the fabric or strip rather thanlocally,

pendent of each other, but all automatic in their operation, arepreferably used within the drying chamber as shown to insure uniformdirectional progress of the fabric and preferably there is a rectifierarranged close to each driven roller over which the fabric engages.

By placing a rectifier close to each driven roller over which thefabric. engages, the sensitivity and accuracy of the rectifier isincreased. Also, with the rectifier in close proximity to the drivenrollers, the rectifier induces rapid rectification of the course oftravel of the fabric. However, the present rectifier is operative evenif placed at a distance from the propelling rollers.

The speed at which the rectifier leads the fabric back to its intendedcourse may be accelerated With the material thus centered and flattenedduring the entire drying operation the output of the drier is smooth andunwrinkle'd and in ideal form for the finishing operation. What is knownas the conventional finishing operation of fabrics consists of removingdistortions and wrinkles, and

establishing thefabric in a predetermined, uniform width. The finishingrollers pull the fabric off from the fiat spreader, by which latter theI fabric is held distended laterally, and steam is applied to the fabricwhile on the spreader from below the plane of the fabric.

, In suchmethods there has been no driving control of the longitudinaltension on the fabric, and the fabric is taut at all times while on thespreader.

Under this present method of finishing the fabric is advanced first infiat form and then in oval or circular form; after which it convergesinto fiat form again, being always distended laterally. Steam is appliedto the fabric after it has been distended in tubular form, andpreferably before and after; after which the fabric is fed to a pair offinishing rollers while the tube is in flattened condition. Steam isappliedto the fabric from both above and below, so that both sides ofthe flattened tube of fabric are uniformly steamed.

Under the present method and apparatus the fabric is propelled at thepoint of its tubular distension, and also in the fiattened condition bythe finishing rollers, and the speed of travel of the finishing rollerscan either be decreased or increased in relation to the speed ofpropulsion when the fabric is distended in oval or circular shape, sothat the longitudinal tension on the fabric can be controlled during thefinishing operation.

Preferably the finishing rollers are operated somewhat more slowly thanthe propelling means which act on the fabric in advance of the finishingrollers, so that the shrinkage which takes place in the fabric duringthe steaming operation may be compensated for by an excess delivery offabric at the place of initial protudinal tension on the fabric iscontrollable where the steam is being applied. It is not absolutelynecessary that the fabric be steamed before it reaches the propellingmeans, but it is a decided advantage to steam the fabric before itpasses through the propeller because the initial steaming operationallows the fabric to be immediately opened or distended laterally beyondthe final width desired, so that after the fabric travels over thepropelling means the desired lateral distension and longitudinal tensioncan be established for the fabric and after it has passed the finishingrollers and is wound up, it attains and retains the final and permanentwidth and length.

Generally the fabric in dry form and preparatory to the finishingoperation is narrower than the ultimate width because the fabric in thedyeing and scouring operations revolves in a dyeing tub for severalhours in rope form, and it becomes attenuated, which decreases itswidth. Thereafter the treating and drying operations while removingwrinkles do not necessarily expand the material to its full width.Consequently, the fabric after the preliminary treatments and dryingoperation is usually narrower than the ultimate width. when it isfinished. Heretofore, when the fabric has been placed over a spreader toundergo the finishing operation, it was stretched laterally but therewas no control of the longitudinal tension and therefore when thedesired width was attained the fabric was not in what might be calledits natural condition, and the tendency to shrink still existed to agreater or lesser degree, depending upon how near to the ultimate widththe fabric was when in its dry condition prior to the finishingoperation. This system, for example, has taken fabric which under theold methods have been finished to a given width and which ran say fouryards to the pound, and which could not be finished with fewer yards tothe pound due to the tension on the fabric as the finishing rollerspulled it off the spreader, the same fabric was finished in the presentmachine at the same width but it ran three and one-half yards to thepound, which was a more desirable condition and which caused the cloth,when made up in a garment, to maintain its width. and length. This wasdue to the fact that when the fabric was intermediately propelled'andspread to a certain width, the longitudinal tension was decreased bydecreasing the tension lengthwise of the fabric and preventing thelatter from being drawn too taut.

By initially distending the fabric into fiat form and then propelling iteither in fiat or extended form and then laterally distending the fabricagain and passing it through the finishing rollers and steaming it atone or two points of lateral distension the dimensions of the fabric arecompletely controllable and especially if there is a double steamingope-ration, the fabric is uniformly finished to a width and length whichit will persistently hold to when made up into garments.

Under the old method referred to above, the fabric is finished for thepurpose of removing the wrinkles and to establish a width by makingseveral runs on finishing machines but the longitudinal and lateralproportions of the fabric were not so controlled as to cause the fabricto retain its final width and length. To offset this the garmentmanufacturer generally cuts his garments so as to allow for substantialshrinkage before the garment reaches the consumer and also after it iswashed by the consumer. Knit goods finished according to the old methodtended to shrink considerably after washing, whereas fabric finishedunder the present method is initially distended and is subjected totension to remove the wrinkles, it is open to its full tubularproportions, the flattened portion of the fabric is wider than theultimate or final width, and the light longitudinal tension regulatedand controlled causes the fabric to converge from its tubular shape tothe flattened shape loosely, both in width and length, and in thatcondition the fabric is steamed. The fabric is thus enabled to shrinkand establish what may be called its natural proportion in width andlength and while in that condition it passes through the finishing orpressing rollers. Fabric thus treated will hold its dimensions and whenmanufactured into garments it can be cut into exact fitting garmentswhich will hold their shape after washing.

As has been said above, most fabrics prior to the finishing operation,are narrower than the ultimate or finished width desired, so that in theprevious method described above, when the fabric was spread to width onthe flat spreader, the tension in the fabric was greatest in the centerso that when it passed through the finishing rollers the-wales at thesides of the fabric were much closer than in the center.

Where the fabric is passed over a propeller as shown, it is uniformlyspread to tubular form and width and it is then allowed to assume itsflat form naturally and uniformly and not forcibly as with the ordinaryflat spreader. In the present case the fiat spreading member is not heldin the bight of the finishing rollers. As a result, the wales of thefabric are uniform throughout its width.

Another object of the present finishing method is a saving in labor inthe operation of the machine because by proper manipulation and steamingof the fabric, such fabric as rayons can be efficiently finished-on thepresent machine by one passage through the machine at approximatelytwice the speed of each single finishing operation in previous machines;The reason rayon fabrics have heretofore been finished slowly and in twoseparate runs was due to the fact that after the initial or first runthrough the machine the width was' necessarily narrower than the desiredultimate width, as otherwise the fabric would tear. In the presentmachine and under the present method the initial steaming operaticn,followed by a gentle expansion of the fabric to its proper tubularproportions, followed by propulsion, permits the handling of this typeof fabric much faster than heretofore, and to perform a double steamingoperation in one run of the fabric through the machine.

In the present machine the fabric dimensions are controllable during thesteaming operation mounting the working parts of the machine and in thedrawings there is shown a simple form of frame composed of severaltubular uprights I connected by angle metal beams 2 near the top andbottom to form a rigid support for the several parts of the machine. Thefabric coming from the drum is carried upwardly and passes first over anidler roller 4 which is arranged crosswise of the machine with its topin the plane in which the fabric travels through the machine.

A primary or first steaming device 88' is arranged to receive the fabricafter it passes over the roller 4 and this steaming device is adapted,preferably, to apply steam to the top and bottom of the fabric whiledistended laterally in fiat form. After passing through this initialsteaming device, the fabric then passes over a part of the propellingdevice 8i which opens the fabric or distends it into oval or circularform and also propels the fabric. The fabric then. passes through asecond steaming device 82 which preferably also applies steam to thefabric above and below its plane, similar to the first steaming device,the fabric being fiattened as it leaves the propelling device and whilepassing through the second steaming device. After passing through thesecond steaming device,the fabric in flattened condition, passes throughthe bight of the finishing rollers 88, 88 and in this flattenedcondition it passes over the roller 88 and winds upon a mandrel I18 toform a roll 28 in final or finished condition.

As stated above, the initial steaming device 88 may or may not be usedaccording to the character of the work. It is preferred to subject thefabric to the steaming operation both before and after the passage ofthe'fabric over the spreader, and propeller and the machine will bedescribed as so constructed and operated without intending to limit theinvention thereto, except insofar as some of the claims may bedefinitely limited thereto.

The steaming devices are preferably similar to each other except for theposition of the steam inlets and a description of one steaming devicewill sufiice for both.

The steaming device, in the preferred construction, includes means fordelivering steam to the fabric below its plane or to the under layer ofthe fabric, and in addition, means for delivering steam above the planeof the fabric or against the top layer. Two headers or steam boxes I80,I8I are arranged at opposite sides of the machine, which are fed by thefeed pipe as will be hereinafter explained. These headers are shown aselongated and cylindrical in shape and disposed parallel to but outsidethe path of the fabric. The headers are connected by a plurality ofcross tubes I82 of any desired number, five such tubes being illustratedin the drawings. The bores of these tubes are in open communication,each at one end with the header I88 and at the other end with the headervI8I so that steam from the headers travels through the tubes andagainst the fabric. The tubes I82 of the lower steaming device areprovided at the top with slots I83 to allow the steam to discharge fromthe tubes against the under side or lower layer of the fabric. Below thesteaming device there is a collecting hopper I84 to receive anyprecipitated moisture, and excess blower creates a suction in the pipeI81 which is connected with the bottom of the hopper for the purpose ofconveying away steam after it has served its purpose by acting upon thetravelling fabric.

Above the plane of the fabric I have shown another pair of headers I88,I89 also'disposed out side of and parallel with the plane of the fabric.The tubes I90 extending across between these headers each have one endin open communication with one of the headers and their other ends inopen communication with the opposite header so that steam may flow fromthe headers into the tubes, the major portion of the steam beingconsumed in the manner hereinafter described. These tubes I90 aredisposed in. a plane just above the plane of the fabric and are adaptedto discharge steam downwardly against the top layer of the fabric.

Means associated with the tubes I 90 prevent any precipitated liquidfrom dripping from the tubes onto the fabric as it is desired to applyonly the steam and not precipitated moisture against the fabric. Forthis purpose is shown strips of metal I9I extending upwardly within thetubes I90 and surrounding the steam discharge slots I92 of the tubes.These strips form dams so that steam can pass downwardly through theopening or slots I92 between the vertical walls I 9| but any moistureprecipitated within the tubes will be dammed by the walls I9I and willbe prevented from passing out through the discharge slots I92 of thetubes. Steam entering the tubes I90 from the headers I88, I89 travelsthrough the bores of the tubes, passes over the dams or strips I9I andthen flows downwardly through the slots I92 onto or through the fabric.

Any of the steam which is condensed into liquid within the tubes will beprevented from flowing through the slots I92 by the walls I9I. AperturesI93 are arranged in the tubes I90 beyond the discharge slot I92 at eachside of the tubes for discharging any precipitated liquid from thetubes, this liquid being discharged beyond the side margins of thefabric into the hopper I84 in orderthat the liquid shall not come intocontact with the fabric. There are guards I94 projecting downwardly fromthe several tubes and arranged between the slots I92 and the dischargeapertures I93 which serve to prevent liquid which passes through theapertures I93 from running along the tubes and getting onto the fabric.

The blower I85, in addition to removing the used steam, tends to createa definite path of travel of the steam.

In looking down upon the upper and lower steaming devices, as in Fig.14, it will be noted that the cross tubes I90, I82 of the upper andlower steaming devices are staggered in relation to each other. That isto say, the tubes of the lower steaming device are arranged in verticalplanes which are disposed between the vertical planes in which the tubesof the upper steaming devices are arranged. This is for the purpose ofhaving a more even distribution of the steam while acting on the fabric.

Steam is supplied to the headers as follows: The pipe I95 leading i'nmany source of supply, connects with an inclined pipe I95, one end ofwhich is connected with. the upper header I88 at the left end in Figure10 and its opposite end is connected with the header I80 of the lowersteam device at the right side in Figure 10. At the other side of themachine there is afeed pipe I91 which connects with an inclined pipeI98.

One end of the latter is connected with one end of the upper header I89and the other end is connected with the oppositely disposed end of thelower header I8I on the same side of the machine. Steam is thus suppliedto the upper headers at ends oppositely disposed and likewise to thelower headers. This causes an equal distribution of the steam to theseveral tubes connected between the headers.

The next branch of the machine which operates on the fabric is thespreader and propeller.

The spreaderis adapted to lie inside the tubular fabric which travelsover and around it, the spreader being supported and the fabricpropelled by exterior rollers. The spreader includes a frame I99 havingcross rollers 200, Ml arranged in lower and upper pairs. There is alower roller 202 mounted in the frame of the machine, to lie outside thefabric and adapted to press against the fabric and against the two lowerrollers 200 of the spreader. There is also an upper roller 203 journaledin vertically sliding bearing blocks 204, and this roller pressesdownwardly on the fabric and against the two upper rollers 20I of thespreader. These exterior rollers propel the fabric by rolling contact inco-operation with the rollers on the spreader inside the fabric and theyalso support the spreader. The spreader cannot follow the fabric becauseit is held stationary while the fabric travels thereover, by cooperationof the exterior and interior rollers.

There is a rod 205 bent in U shape and attached to the frame of thespreader, with the loop of the bow projected toward the front end of themachine.

This bow also lies inside the tubular fabric and it extends from thespreader, through the steaming device 80 and to a point in advancethereof. This bow opens the fabric and holds it distended in the form ofa flattened tube, as shown in Figure 12, while the fabric is passinginto and through the first steaming device 80.

After the fabric passes through the primary steaming device it graduallyopens up to an oval or circular form as it passes onto and over thespreading device described above, where it is also propelled.

There is another wire member 206 and this is also attached to the frameI 99 .of the spreader but it extends toward the rear of the machine orin the opposite direction to the member 205. The bow of this memberextends to a point near the bight of the finishing rollers but it is notpressed into the bight of these rollers. As the fabric passes over thespreader it passes onto this wire member and gradually assumes the flatform preparatory to passing through the second steaming device and thefinishing rollers.

The second steaming device 82 follows the spreading and propellingdevice and, as stated above, it may be a duplicate of the one describedabove. The pipes for delivering the steam to the headers, on the secondsteaming device are preferably disposed in reverse positions to those ofthe first device, as shown in Figure 10 in order that all portions ofthe fabric may be treated alike.

As the fabric passes through the second steaming device it will besubjected to steam above and below so that all portions will be steamedthe same as in the first steaming device.

From the second steaming device the fabric, in the form of a. flattenedtube, will pass through

